The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Axioms"
You likely share with me axioms of truth based on God and His Word, and hidden within our hearts to guide our walk with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are a few of mine:
"Show up." Much good can happen when we arrive at the scene of the callings of life God commissions. Most of them involve everyday privileges and responsibilities, including the first and most important as each day begins: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Upon this basis, we find the motivation and power to show up at all other privileged responsibilities to which our Heavenly Father calls us.
"I get to." Life changes when we replace "I have to" with the truth that we live in realm of grace wherein every breath and doing is a gift. The next step we take, regardless of pleasure, pain, or the mundane, will be taken by believers in the presence of God, and with His grace available for the moment. All is privilege, including (and perhaps especially) the challenges we face in walking with our Lord: "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29; emphasis added). I have to? Oh no. I get to. "They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41).
"Better than I deserve." The response of a dear brother and friend whenever someone asks, "How are you doing?" As we frequently suggest in these messages, the Lord Jesus received what we deserve on the cross of Calvary. We receive what He deserves in salvation. Few more humbling and encouraging truths exist that keep us in our place, and raise us up in God's grace. Addendum: this past summer, I had a corollary thought about blistering summer days. "How hot is it? Not as hot as we deserve!"
"What's your hurry?" I experience great challenge regarding this. My native tendency is to always feel rushed, even if I have adequate time to do whatever I think needs to be done. We function far better when we view life with patience, realizing we can never take more than one step at a time, and the next one will be much better if we well attend to the one at hand. "In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19).
"Count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations (trials)." Straight out of Scripture, and straight out of my wife Frances when we first met. "It doesn't mean that" I responded when she affirmed James' mandate. She let me know it most surely does, and continues after nearly a half century to serve as the living example of what which is far more than an axiom. Note that James does not suggest we "feel" it all joy, but that we "count" it as such. That is, as a choice of faith, in response to God's presence and promise of grace, we confess and affirm, "I will rejoice in the Lord and His working."
"A very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). A corollary to James and Frances. God is always with the believer. He is very with us in pains, difficulties, and challenges. Certainly, it may not feel or seem to be the case. But it always is the case. Our Father draws especially close to His hurting child, and if we cast even a glimpse of faith in His direction, we will find the "very."
"With Somebody." Because the Lord Jesus was forsaken on the cross of Calvary as He suffered and died for us, born again believers live in the abiding presence of the living and true God. From the moment of our new birth until forevermore, our Father gave and gives to us the gift of Himself. We live with Somebody, the only one with us always. Our remembrance thereof changes everything when affirmed by faith. "I am with you always… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). We will never face a moment alone, either in this life or the coming Heavenly eternity in Christ. We ever and forever live with Somebody.
"Everybody matters to God." I first heard this in a sermon by A.W. Tozer many years ago, based on his understanding of John 3:16. It perfectly aligns with Scripture, of course, and while I remain a first day pupil in seeking to live by the truth of so wondrous a reality in our Lord, the glory of it abides and affects. "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind" (Luke 14:12-13). We will never look into the eyes of a human being deemed insignificant by our Heavenly Father. All matter to Him. All must matter to us.
"We live anticipated lives." In reality, we have no idea what the next moment holds of circumstance, condition, and situation. The One to whom we have committed our trust, however, has "from everlasting" seen every moment of our existence "to everlasting" (Psalm 90:2). Completely, utterly, and forever beyond our understanding. But not beyond our faith, and our peace that nothing will ever arrive at our doorstep unanticipated by our Heavenly Father (or beyond His ability to guide and enable us).
Other helpful axioms gathered into heart and mind exist that benefit my life, as do your own. I'll not share all of mine to keep this from being too lengthy. However, I will mention the most important in conclusion…
"In both Heaven and earth, there is no one like the Lord Jesus Christ." He is the beloved Son of the Father, the subject and theme that guides the Holy Spirit in every working, the fascination of angels, the dearest and best of believers, and the hope of all. Forever will not be long enough to discover the wonders of His person and work on behalf of His Father, and of us. God's blessing of our lives is directly commensurate to our trust and devotion in the Lord Jesus, and He alone determines the peace of our hearts. The Prince of peace is so in this moment, whatever it may hold. There is no one like Him, no one that compares, or as a final and corollary axiom of heart and mind proclaims…
"Christ only. Christ always. Christ forever!"
"Lead me in Thy truth."
(Psalm 25:5)
Weekly Memory Verse
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.
(I Timothy 2:1)
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